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Delage Is Back: How Is It Street Legal-Where Can You Get One?

The storied French Delage brand is coming back. But the bigger surprise is what it will debut with and how can it be street-legal as claimed? Yes, what you’re looking at is claimed to be street-legal. It’s a two-seater and is designed to be “the closest to the sensation of driving a Formula One car …
by Thom Taylor
Published on
3 min read

The storied French Delage brand is coming back. But the bigger surprise is what it will debut with and how can it be street-legal as claimed? Yes, what you’re looking at is claimed to be street-legal. It’s a two-seater and is designed to be “the closest to the sensation of driving a Formula One car that has ever been experienced in a street-legal car.”

Delage was the World Champion of Car Builders in 1927

Historic French brand Delage is reborn after going out of business in 1953. Delage CEO Laurent Tapie has chosen to start with a 1,100-hp hybrid supercar with a naturally-aspirated V12.

So says Delage CEO Laurent Tapie. Delage was the World Champion of Car Builders in 1927. It won the Indy 500 in 1914. And it has been the basis for some of the loveliest cars ever built. Since 1996 a Delage has taken Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance three times. 

Overhead cam V12s, twin-overhead straight-eights; it represented exotic, technically superior vehicles. Delahaye acquired the company in 1935 and by the early-1950s was gone. But it left an impressive legacy of race cars and touring cars, too. Tapie is looking to pick up where Delage left off.

Delage wants to be the fastest street-legal car at Nurburgring

Historic French brand Delage is reborn after going out of business in 1953. Delage CEO Laurent Tapie has chosen to start with a 1,100-hp hybrid supercar with a naturally-aspirated V12.

He wants the D12-the name of this first series car, to be the fastest street-legal car at Nurburgring. That is currently held by the Lamborghini Aventador at 6:44.97 seconds. To do this the D12 GT version will be powered by a 7.6-liter V12 naturally aspirated. Alone it produces 900 hp. But it will also be aided by an electric motor mounted inside of the eight-speed automated manual transmission. That adds 110 hp for a total of 1,100 hp.

All of the body panels are carbon fiber. So are the wheels. They have been designed to channel air for cooling the brakes. Both the steering wheel and carbon fiber seat and leg support will be molded around the driver. 

Delage says zero-to-62 times are 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 233 mph

Historic French brand Delage is reborn after going out of business in 1953. Delage CEO Laurent Tapie has chosen to start with a 1,100-hp hybrid supercar with a naturally-aspirated V12.

A second “Club” version also has an electric motor with 20 added hp. According to literature while the heavier GT is quicker the Club is faster around a circuit. Advertising claims zero-to-62 times are 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 233 mph. 

Delage has been quietly building a development team and financing. So far Tapie has found 10 investors but is looking to add more. While Tapie’s father is billionaire Bernard Tapie he has not invested in Delage. There will be 30 D12s built at around $2.3 million each. Two have been sold already through Newport Beach Automotive Group which is its Los Angeles-area dealer. Deliveries will begin next year. 

The technical team has 16 FIA World Championship titles among them

Historic French brand Delage is reborn after going out of business in 1953. Delage CEO Laurent Tapie has chosen to start with a 1,100-hp hybrid supercar with a naturally-aspirated V12.

Supposedly, the entire technical team has 16 FIA World Championship titles among them. The technical director is Benoît Bagur who has seen time with Citroën Sport, Seat, VW Sport, and Ligier. Formula One champ Jacques Villeneuve is a test driver for Delage.

Of course, Tapie is only beginning. He has plans for an outrageous second Delage. This one will be propelled by “a revolutionary turbine that’s been in development for 12 years, and will also take advantage of some innovative aerodynamic technology.” Tapie says, “We really see ourselves as a technology company.”

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Staff Writer

Thom Taylor

Thom Taylor is a celebrated automotive journalist. He was awarded the Top 100 Most Influential People in Hot Rodding from Hot Rod Magazine, and was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and the National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame. He’s a member of SEMA and the NHRA.

Thom has authored a number of books, including Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and several guides for drawing vehicles like a pro, which pull from his distinguished ventures as an automotive illustrator.

Thom joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2019, and focuses his coverage on new vehicle releases, design, and the latest features and tech in the industry. His tenure of 25 years writing about the industry gives him a unique context for the auto news he covers, whether it’s part of the Rusty Monday series or the latest news from Chevy. Thom has built two complete cars from the ground up and driven vintage roadsters at the Indy 500.